We talk about China’s rise, says my guest today, but we don’t really take onboard what it means.

British thinker and writer Martin Jacques says what it means is the end of the long run of Western pre-eminence in the world. Britain, Europe, America — done, as top dogs. Western ways and perspectives and presumptions — fine, but ignorable. China, stepping up with a whole new way — it’s own old way — of doing things.

Joining us from San Diego is Susan Shirk, chair in China and Pacific Relations and director of the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at the University of California, San Diego. She oversaw U.S.-China policy at the State Department from 1997 to 2000, and is the author of “China: Fragile Superpower.”

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